Druidess Found (Druidess Trilogy Book 1) Machelle Hanleigh (best ebook reader under 100 .TXT) 📖

"Here you go." Sari handed her pants and a long-sleeved pullover. It was not as bulky as her sweaters were but felt soft and warm to the touch.

Kaily's face lit up. "Thank you."

Sari inclined her head. "You can change first."

Kaily looked around. "Where?"

Sari glared at Moto and held up her hand as if she prepared to give him another zap.

Moto held up his hands in surrender. "She didn't need the room earlier."

Sari shook her head and took Kaily by the hand. "There is a shower room over here where you can change," she lowered her voice, "and other needs."

Kaily looked inside to find a functional bathroom. "Wow, impressive."

"Shimani found these a while back." She turned to Shimani, "Was this room here when you found it, or did you put it in?"

"It was here. I think this used to be someone's home, but no one has been back to claim it." Shimani set the pot he stirred on the stone tabletop. From appearance, Moto finished setting up his portion of the meal preparation.

"I'll hurry," Kaily said to Sari.

"The repast will keep, take your time." Sari said.

Kaily entered the room and pulled the curtain across the entrance. From a cursory view the cave appeared to be just any ordinary cave like she might expect to find on Earth. There were differences between the worlds, but similarities too. She could almost forget that she was on another planet, almost. She looked around the bathroom. Still, it was apparent someone took time to make this cave habitable for long term. Learning what she did from Sari, there was no telling how long she and Moto would be there. If Moto came to terms about what he wanted from her, she would be hard pressed to convince him to take her back home. She had some thinking of her own to do on that account. She couldn't deny that there was a connection and pull between them. What did that mean for both of them? Could they be together in reality? How? Where?

When Kaily finished and rejoined the others. She found Sari had already changed and sat at the table with Shimani and Moto. She could tell they were close with the way they talked and laughed. It was the most relaxed she saw Moto around anyone. She smiled to herself as she made her way to the empty place, they left for her.

"Pants, Sari?" Moto admonished.

"They'll keep her warm." Sari said in her defense.

"I like them." Kaily chimed in as she sat between Moto and Sari.

"So do I."

"Eyes to yourself, Shimani," Moto said.

Sari laughed and Shimani smiled unfazed.

Kaily smiled. She turned her attention to the spread on the table. The aroma coming from the pot smelled good and her stomach rumbled. Shimani dished up a bowl for each of them and Moto filled a small plate for each of them. She noticed that on her and Sari's plate there was more pahini than the other fruits or veggies or whatever they all were. Kaily still didn't know what was what. It was a testament to just how observant Moto was, even when she didn't realize it. Her eyes meet his. "Thank you," Kaily said.

"What about me?" Shimani asked. "I cooked the stew."

Kaily smiled at Shimani. "Thank you as well. It smells delicious."

"She likes my cooking," Shimani told Moto.

"She hasn't tasted it yet." Moto said.

Sari and Kaily shook their heads at them both.

Kaily looked around the table at each of them. She liked this, the camaraderie of friends. She could get used to it. The joking and good-natured conversation continued as they all ate their repast. Every time her gaze strayed to Moto, her eyes locked with his and he would smile at her. She didn't know if it was because he never stopped watching her or if it was because he could feel her eyes straying towards him or vice versa. She didn't know if Shimani and Sari noticed how often Moto and her eyes locked or if they were politely ignoring it. They continued the conversation as if nothing was unusual, and perhaps it wasn't. Maybe this was how it should be with others. She continued to smile as she looked down at her plate. She finished as they all did. She could get used to this kind of camaraderie.

"Everything was delicious," Kaily said aloud to both Shimani and Moto.

Shimani inclined his head.

Moto and Shimani cleared away the dishes and cleaned up. She and Sari moved the cushions closer to the fire. Moto handed Kaily a cup with warm liquid in it and Shimani handed Sari a similar cup. Both Shimani and Moto held one of their own.

"What's this?" Kaily asked.

"Yours is nectar of brey," Moto said before Shimani could tell her.

Shimani leaned forward and closer to Kaily. "He wouldn't let me give you actual brey, not even the watered-down kind."

Kaily smirked, "probably for the best. If I remember correctly, I fell asleep the one and only time I was given the watered-down version of brey.

"You did." Moto said.

"Did you show Kaily the training room at the back of the cave?" Shimani asked. He took a drink of his brey.

Moto narrowed his eyes at Shimani. "No."

"What kind of training room?" Kaily asked.

"Nothing," Moto answered before Shimani could. "We can explore it tomorrow."

"We could now." Shimani said. He appeared as if he were going to stand.

Sari placed a restraining hand on Shimani's arm. "Finish your brey. They have plenty of time to explore the caves and talk about training later."

Kaily glanced from Shimani to Sari to Moto. There was a tension in Moto that hadn't been there just moments before, clearly the thought of training her upset him. She didn't understand why. She frowned and sipped at her nectar of brey. Silence descended on the group. The conversation between her and Sari played over in her mind. Moto was uncomfortable with the conversation about the training, was he also uncomfortable about training her? Not that she believed it would matter anyway. There